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May 28, 1929. R. P. LANSING ENGINE STARTING MECHANISM Filed Jan. 18, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet May 28, 1929. R. P. LANslNG 1,114,913

ENGINE STARTING MECHANISM Filed Jan. 18, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 47 l l .un 9

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1130 36 a 1 i. xi?! 1 if@ 1 J 1 f qO Zlg I4 IO f 31111011101* Gttorncgs Patented May 28, 1929.

UNITED STATES PTENT` OFFICE.

EAYIJIOND I. LANSING, or MONTCLAIR, NEW JERSEY, AssIGNoR To ECLIPSE MA- CHINE COMPANY, 0E ELMIEA HEIGHTS, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION 0E NEW YORK.

ENGINE-STARTING IVIECHANISM.

This invention relates to engine starting apparatus, and more particularly to combined starting and ignition mechanism for internal combustion engines.

It has heretofore been proposed to employ starters of the inertia type for internal combustion engines. A starter of this character embodies, in certain instances, a small yflywheel which rotates a driven member adapted to engage, but normally out of engagement with, a member provided on the engine crank shaft or an extension of the latter. In order to effectively employ a small flywheel the same must be rotated at high speed and means including reduction gearing are interposed between said flywheel and the engine engaging member whereby the latter is driven at a relatively low speed. Manually operable means may be employed for bringing the flywheel to the desired speed of rotation, and in this event the gearing referred to is employed as a part of said manually operable means whereby one revolution of a member, such as a hand crank, is effective to rotate the flywheel a large number of times.

When suflicient energy has been stored in the inertia element of the starter, i. e., when the flywheel has been brought to a very high speed of rotation, the engine engaging member is quickly moved into driving engagement with the engine crank shaft member, whereby the crank shaft is rotated and the engine started.

In many instances it is desirable to supply the ignition current for an internal combustion engine from a magneto that is mounted on and driven by the engine. During the starting of the engine the magneto is driven at such a low speed as to frequently be ineffective to supply the desired current. In order to overcome this difficulty it has heretofore been proposed to provide a booster7 magneto operatively connected to an engine hand turning gear. A large magneto adapted to do its work at. any speed was required for this purpose.

An object of the present invention is to provide novel starting and ignition mechanism for internal combustion engines which mechanism includes, in combination, a booster magneto and an inertia starter.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in combination with an inertia starter, a booster magneto adapted to be driven by the flywheel of the starter.

A further object is-to provide an iner-tia starter having suitable gearing operatively connected to the starterflyWheel-and to a booster magneto whereby thelatter may be driven at high speed, thus permitting the use of a relatively small magneto.

Another Objectis to provide, in combination with an inertia starter, a .booster magneto adapted to be driven by the starter, the magneto being disconnected from said 'starter during the time that energy is being stored in theftlywheel of the latter.

Another object is to provide, incombination with starting mechanism ofthe type embodying a flywheelanda member-driven by the flywheel and adapted-tobe moved into driving engagement With the engine to be started, a magneto mounted in driving relation with the flywheel and adapted to be connected therewithby mechanism forvmoving the engine engaging member into driving engagement with the engine. I

A further object is to provide a booster magneto .in'combination with inertia starter mechanism and manually operable means for engaging the booster magneto ywith the said mechanism after energy has been lstored in the latter. f f Y A still further object is to provide, in combination with an inertia starter, a booster magneto mounted thereon and adapted t0 be drivably connected with the gearing of the starter, the driving connection being made with a part which is rotated at high speed. The above and other objects will appear more fully in the detailed description.

Two embodiments of the present invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein like referenee characters refer to like parts throughout the several views. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are 'for purposes of illustration only and are not designed as a definition of the limits of the invention, reference being had for this purpose to the appended claims.

In the drawings,-

Fig. 1 is an elevation in axial section illustrating one embodiment ofthe present invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention; and

Fig. 3 is an elevation, in axial section, of he embodiment of the invention shown in fig. 2.

gagement with,V

sleeve 18 is drivably vwhich is shownin end 19 and is number offscrews,'one of which is shown at 10. The-flywheel is'adapted to rotate a starter 'jaw 11 which is'norma'lly'out of enbut which -is movable-to engage a -jaw'12 formed on the f cralnk'shaft (not shown) of the engine'tobels'tarted; o ron an extension'of said crank shaft.

A-Means areprovidedfor rotating'flywlieel 8 at hi'ghspeed, 'wherebyenergy mayfbe stored 'therein f or etfeetingstarting of the engine. Either power' onmanual' means may-beprorided for rotatingthe flywheel,'but'in'the illustrated embodiment of the invention f said means-are of the manually aoperabletype and include a shaft 1 3 rotatably mounted-in housing portion 6,V as by'rneans lot suit-able bearings 14. "One `end ot'shaft'13 projects exteriorly ofthe housing and is provided with a pin 15, whereby said shaftm'ay be rotated by a suitable hand eranktnotlshown). Mounted ton 'the inner -end'ofshatt 13 is a bevel gear 16 which meshes with a 'bevel gear'17 rigidly 'secured-to the-outer end ot a. rotatably mounted sleeve 18. The' inner end of attaehedin any suitable manner tothe Vclosed en'd 19 of a driving barrel 20 which is rotatably mounted in housing portion 4 by means ot ball bearings 21.' Extending 'outwardly from the Closed end of barrel `'2O are three t-ubular sleeves 22,vone of section. 4 ach of these sleeves, which are spaced apart at intervals of 12()o around the end of the barrel, is pressed into a counterbore formed'in barrel formed integrally with a retaining ringT 23. Screws Z4 pass through the sleeves and are' threaded into the barreh Ball hearings 25. which are mounted on sleeves 22, rotatably support three planetary gears 26. one ot' which is shown in section.A

'lhe planetary gears 26 mesh with an internal gear 2'I-whieh is rigidly mounted within housing portion 4 as by means of' studs 28. 'lhe planetary vgears also mesh with a. sun gear Z9 that is rotatably mounted on sleeve .18. It gear 30, which is preferably formed integrally with sun gear 29, is also rotatably mounted on sleeve 18 and is provided with an inner series ot teeth to form an internal gear which meshes with a pinion 3l. Gear 30 is also provided onthe periphery thereof with a series ot teeth for a purpose to be described hereafter. Pinion 31 is preferably attac-hed in any suitable manner to a bellshaped member 32 which is rotatably mounted in housing to be secured. to portions 4 byV in the outerenclosed'by a. Alight cover 9 se.

rounds arod 46. 'The 'spring "resists movement of' jaw 11 towards shaft 43,

villustrated :embodiment the yielding driving leonnectioniseonstitutedby a multiple disk clutch, certain of the clutch disks 38 being 'tspli'ned -to theinnersurface'of barrel 20,- adfjaeent1th-elofsed end of the same. In interleavii'ig'l relationfvv'itli' disks' '38-are the I remaining elutclitlisks39 wl'i'ieh are splined at vtheir inner'p'eripheries to the outer surface of :an Vi'nteriorly lthreaded nutl40; Suitable #means such 'asfA springs 41"-and anadjusting 'i nut442-ivhichj 'latter isthreaded -into'the :open 'end-'of drum 20;' are' prvid'ed for' adjusting i tllietlfiet-i'onal 'engagement of the disks ofthe Ouch,

Mountedfor, longitudinal and rotarv movement Within nut 40 isa threaded'shaft 43 which Carries a nut '44` that acts-as a stop to limit'the outward'movement of shaft-43 relativev to nutf 40. The outerend'of shaft 43 -is .longitudinally-splined' to receive' the A'sp'lined 'portion --11"ofstarter jaw 11.'. In- 'terpose'dvbetween the' inner aeeof the hub portion 'of ]a-\vf'11-andtl1'e adjacentrecessed end of shaft`43 isa coil spring 45 which sur- 45 lyieldingly `Rod46 Y'is concentric-Zally disposed relative to starter jawll, shaft 43 and sleeve 18,'and slidably extends` througl1"these elements, the 'outer end of sa'id'rod terminating adjacent the center of bevel-gear 16;' The inner or engine end of rod 46 is threaded toreceive a nut 47 which abuts against the outer face of the hub portion of jaw 11 and maintains the latter inoperative relation with said rod and shaft '43. Intermediate its ends, rod 46 is provided with a shoulder 46 which is normally in abutting engagement with the outer end of threaded shaft 43. Pivotally connected to the outer extremity of rod 46 is a lever arm 48 which is rigidly attached to a. rock shaft 49 that extends -through housing portion 6 and carries on its outer end a bell crank lever 50. Surrounding rock shaft 49 is a coil spring 51, one end of which is secured to lever arm 48 and the other end of which is anchored to the housing` Rock shaft 49, bell crank lever 50 and 'spring 51 are laterally spaced from the longitudinal axis of the starter mechanism and are preferably mounted in the half ot said mechanism not illusA trat/ed. Accordingly, these elements are "shown in dotted lines.

A booster magneto-5:7J is rigidly secured in lll) any suitable manner to the housing portion 6 of the starter, and means are provided for driving the magneto armature from flywheel 8. -For this purpose housing portion 6 is provided with a projecting boss 6a which encloses a spur gear 53 that meshes with the outer teeth of gear 30. Spur gear 53 is keyed to a short shaft 54 provided with jaw teeth 55 which are permanently meshed with corresponding jaw teeth formed on a coupling 56 that is keyed to the tapered end of the armature shaft 57. The outer periphery of the hub of gear 53 rotatably engages a bushing 58 which is pressed into a hub 59 formed in the housing boss 6@l and the reduced end 54a of shaft 54 is suitably journalledin a hub 60 formed in housing portion 4.

.In operation, shaft 13 is rotated by means of the hand crank (not shown). This movement is transmitted through bevel gears 16, 17, sleeve 18, drum 20, planetary gears 2G, sun gear 29, gear 30, pinlonel, gear 33 and pinion 34 to shaft 35 whereby flywheel 8 is rotated at high speed. At this time jaw 11, threaded shaft 43, nut and barrel 2O rotate as a unit and the armature shaftA 57 is also rotated by means of gears 30 and 53.

When sufficient energy. has been stored in flywheel 8 no further manual effort is exerted on shaft 13. The operator now rotates bell crank lever 50 in such a direction that rock shaft 49 and lever arm 48 move rod 46 to the left against the tension of spring 51. The shoulder on rod 46 moves shaft 43 and spring to the left relative to nut 40, Whereupon starter jaw 11 is yieldingly moved into meshing engagement with jaw 12 on the engine crank shaft and the energy of flywheel 8 is effective to rotate said crank shaft and start the engine. Due to the gearing connection between the flywheel and armature shaft 57, said flywheel rotates the shaft at a high speed and current is supplied by the magneto 52 to the engine. Since the speed of rotation of the armature shaft 57 is very high a small magneto can supply the necessary ignition current for the engine.

As soon as the engine starts under its own power and the speed of rotation of jaw 12 is greater than the speed of rotation of jaw 11, the tendency for the latter jaw to be driven and the threaded connection between shaft 43 and nut 40 results in these parts being returned to normal position, if bell crank lever has been released and spring 51 has returned rod 46 to normal position. In the event that rod 46 is held in meshing position after the engine starts under its own power no damage will result because the inclined surfaces of the teeth of jaws 11 and 12 are effective to force jaw 11 to the right against the tension of spring 45. After the engine starts under its own power the ignition current is supplied by the engine driven magneto and the starter parts come to rest.

Due to the train of gearing employed and the necessity for rotating flywheel 8 .at a very high speed relative to shaft 13, considerable effort is required on the part of the operator to bring flywheel 8 up to the desired speed. The permanent driving connection to the magneto armature shaft adds to the amount of torque required to rotate flywheel 8. Moreover, during the time that energy is being stored in the flywheel the magneto is not supplying current to the engine. In certain instances it is therefore desirable to provide means whereby the magneto is drivably disconnected from the starting mechanism during the time the energy is be- 4ing stored in the flywheel, said. means being so constructed that the magneto may be driv- 'ably connected with said flywheel at the time that the energy of said flywheel is rendered effective to rotate the engine crank shaft.

In Figs. 2 and 3 there is illustrated an embodiment of the invention wherein Ithe .flywheel is adapt-ed to be drivably connected -to the magneto 52 at the instant that jaw 11 is moved into engine engaging position. The starter elements included within housing portions 4 and 6 and the magneto, are similar to those described above. Mounted within a projecting boss 6b formed on housing portion 6 is a spur gear 61 having a hub 62 which runs in a bronze bushing 63 that is pressed into a hub 64 formed in the boss 6b. A lock ring 65 is preferably provided on hub 62 to prevent endwise movement of gear 61. As

in the previous embodiment the armature shaft 57 has secured thereto, in any suitable manner, a coupling 56 provided with jaw teeth that are permanently in mesh with corresponding teeth formed on a short shaft 67. A bushing (not shown) may he interposed between the enlarged portion of shaft 67 and the bore of hub 62. The smaller end of shaft 67 is suitably journalled in a hub 68 formed in housing portion 4.

A circular series of teeth 69 which constitutes one-half of a toothed clutch is secured to, or suitably formed on, one face of the gear 61. Mounted on the reduced portion 67 of the short shaft 67 is a disk 7 0 provided on one face thereof with a circular series of teeth adapted to engage teeth 69. If desired, the disk 70 may have threaded engagement with portion 67a of the short shaft but in the illustrated embodiment said reduced portion is square in cross section and disk 70 is mounted on said squared portion for movement longitudinally thereof and for rotation therewith.

Means are provided for normally holding disk 70 out of driving engagement with gear 61, said means being also adapted to move the disk into driving engagement with gear 61 when the flywheel 8 has been brought to the proper speed of rotation, whereby the magneto armature will be driven by the flywheel. In the form shown Said means comprises a link [lv'iwhioh is pivotally connected to one rarm of `the bell crank lever 5,0. 1 The opposite endof-link 7 1 is-bentupwardly as at 71 to receivean eye formed on the, end of an L- 'shaped'arm"(2. 'The other-end-oic arm 72 is rigidlyattached in any suitable manner to a rook shaft 73 mounted in the upper part of the housingr portion 4. ?A shifting fork 74 which'isirigidlyattached to shaft 73 extends lOzinto operative engagement with the hub of disk 70." lv '--V In operation', 'the `flywheelV is manually ro- 1 tated in a -marnner' previously described. Simultaneously, gearlBO 'rotates gear 61 which "l5 now constitutes an' tidler.' No motion is trans- --mitted, `atfthis time 'to the armatiire shaft 'of magneto. 52. ""VVhen sufiicie'nt energyh'as been lstored 'inthe'flyiiheel 8the operator exerts va'foree'on bell crank lever 50 t'o rotate'it in an anti-clockwise direction, as'viewe'd in Fig. '2. This movenientof the bell crank lever is transmitted through" rod '46 to move the starter' aw l'linto'A driving engagement'with -'thefengine shaft/in a. manner. prei-'iou'sly dc- 15 scribed. Simultaneouslywith the movement ofmeshing rod'46, the bell crank lever acts through link 71, L-shaped larm 72, shaft 73 and fork :74 'to move toothed disk 70 to the right,"as`viewed in Fig. 3 and into meshing l engagement with the teeth' 69l "The flywheel no'w rotates armature shatt- 5T `'through gear; 61,' disk 70 andlshaft 67, andthe booster magneto which is dr'ivenat high speed -is rendered effective to'supply the ignition current'for starting. As soon as the engine 'starts'underits own power, starter jaw 11 is -moved out of driving engagement with the jawllin a manner previously described and simultaneously spring 51 vreturns disk 70 to normal disengaged ApMit-ion.

There is thus'provide'd means whereby a booster Vmagneto is adapted to be 'drivahly connected with the flywheel of an inertia` starter. Since the booster magneto is driven at a very high speed by the flywheel, a small,

light magneto may be employed. The device is extremely compact and may be `readily installed on or removed from an engine. YDue. to the simple construction and lightweight of the apparat-us itis particularly adapted for use with aeroplane engines, but is not limited` to such use. For purposes of descriptien there is illustrated and described herein 1'.

particular starter construction, but the. pres;- ent invention is not limited to the form of starter shown. Power means such as an electric motor may1 be employed for rotating flywheel 8 is desired, or both manual and power means may be provided for this purpose. If it is desired to provide means whereby the magneto armature will not be driven during the interval that energy is being stored in the flywheel, the apparatus provides common means for simultaneously moving the starter jaw into driving engagement with the engine and for clutching ,the magneto armature shaft to the reduction gearing. Practially no weight is added to the starter structure except that of a small magneto, since the reduction gearing of the Starter is employed for rotating the armature shaft at high speed. Y

Reference has been made in several instances to the fact that the parts are so arra nged as to permit rot-ation ofthe armature shaft at high speed. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the various parts, including the gearing, may be modified in'any suitable manner to secure any desired speed of rotation of the armature shaft, and changes maybe made in. the size andtype of magneto employed to conform with such speed.'

Various changes may be made inthe details of construction of the apparatus and the arrangements of parts. Reference will therefore be had to the appended claims for a definition of the limit-s of the invention;

-What is claimed is l. n start-ing apparatus o f the class described, a. driven member adapted'for engagement with a member of an engine'to be start-- ed, an inertia driving member therefor, and a magnet-o mounted in driving relation -with the inertia member.

9,. In starting apparatus of the class described, a driven member, an inertia driving member therefor, means including gearing for imparting the energy of the inertia member to said driven member, and a booster magneto adapted to be driven by said inertia member through said gearing.

3. Instarting apparatus ofthe class described, a driven member movable int'o operative engagement with an engine to be started, a rotatable` inertia driving member therefor, means tor imparting the rotation of the inertia member to said driven member, a magneto adapted to be driven by said inertia member, and means operatively connected to .said firs-t named means and said magneto for drivably connecting the latter with the inertia member.

4. In starting apparatus of the class described, a driven member movable into operative engagementwith an engine to be started, a flywheel for driving said member, a magneto, means including gearing operatively connected to said driven member` magneto and flywheel, and manually operable means for rotating said flywheel at high speed. 12o ln starting apparatus of the class described, a driven member movabie into ope rr.-

tive engagement with an engine to be started,

an inertia driving'member therefor, a magneto, gearing means operatively connected to said magneto and inertia member, and manually operable means for actuating said gearmg means.

(l. In starting apparatus of the class described, a driven member, an inertia driving I neto adapted to be driven by said starter', and

for an internal combustion engine, said starter including-a driven member adapted to engage a member of the engine to be started, a magcommon meansA for establishing a driving connection-betweensaid starter and magneto and for moving said driven member into engagement with said engine member.

9. In combination with starting mechanism for an internal combustion engine, said meehanism including a driven member adapted to be engaged with a member of the engine to be started, a magneto for supplying ignition cu rrent to the engine during the starting operation only, means for moving said driven member into engagement with the engine member, and means actuated by said l'irst named means for establishing a driving connection between said starting mechanism and said magneto.

10. In combination with engine starting mechanism including a driven member adapted to be moved into engagement with a member of the engine to be started, a magneto for supplying ignition current to said engine, said magneto being mounted on said starting mechanism, and common means for moving said driven member into engagementwith said engine member and `for establishing a driving connection between said starting mechanism and magneto.

1l. In combination with engine starting mechanism inelndinga driven member adapted to be moved into operative engagement with the engine to be started, a booster magneto adapted to he driven hy said mechanism, manually operable means for moving said driven member into engagement with said engine member, and means actuated by said manually operable means 'for operatively connecting said booster magneto and starting mechanism.

12. In combination, an engine starter including a flywheel and a driven member adapted to be moved into engagenlentl with a member of an engine to he started, a magneto adapted to be driven by, but normally out of driven engagement witl1,said llywheel, means for moving said driven member into engagement with said engine member, means for operatively connecting said flywheel and magneto, and means for simultaneously actuating said first and second named means.

13. In combination, lan engine starter including a driven member adapted'to be moved into engagement with a member of an engine to be started and aflywheel for rotating said driven member, a magneto for-supplying ignition current to the engine during the starting operation, motion transmitting means interposed between said flywheel 'and magneto, andmeans for simultaneously moving said driven member into. engagement 'with' A'said engine member andl forrendering said motion transmitting means operative.

14. In combination with an engine starter of the inertia type, a booster magneto' mounted on said starter, means operatively connected to said starter for driving the armature shaft of said magneto at highv speed, and movable means for operatively connecting said first named means with said arma-ture shaft.A

15. In combination'witli an engine starter of the inertia type,'abooster magnetomounted on said starter, means including normally disengaged members for operatively connecting said magneto and starter, and means for moving said members into driving engagement whereby said magneto is driven at high speed.

1G. In combination with engine starting mechanism, a megnto adapted to supply ignition current to an engine to be started, means operatively associated with said mechanism and magneto whereby the latter is adapted to be driven by the former, said means including a. pair of toothed members that are normally disengaged, and means for moving said toothed members into driving engagement.

17. In combination with an engine starter including a tiywheel and means for rotating said flywheel, means for supplying ignition current to an engine to be started, means including gearing adapted to be driven by said ttywheel, and manually operable means for establishing a driving connection between said gearing and said current supplying means, said manual means being adapted to be actuated while the flywheel is rotating at high speed.

1S. In combination with an engine starter includingr a flywheel and means for rotating said fiywheel, a magneto having an armature shaft adapted to be rotated at high speed by said flywheel, means including normally disengaged clutch elements for imparting the rotation of said flywheel to said shaft, and means operable during the rotation of the flywheel for engaging said clutch elements.

Y 19. In combination with an engine starter embodying a flywheel and means for rotating said flywheel, a booster magneto, means for driving said magneto including a slidable clutch member', and means for moving said clutch member into driving engagement during high speed rotation of said flywheel.

20. In starting apparatus of the class dellO scribed, a driven member mow'ableintooperative engagementlwith an engine to be started, a flywheel fordriving said member, a magneto, 'means incldingzgearing operatively .connected to saidv driven member, n iagneto and flywheel, and means for. rotating said flywheel at highzspeed tol storeeneigy: therein. 21, 'I i1 ,st-arti@ apparatus of theelass .de scribed, a drivenfniember movable into operative engagement with a niembell o f an engine to. be started, an inertia. drigvingniember for the driven member, a magneto, gearingmeans operatn-'elyeonneeted tosaid magneto and inertia driving. member, f and .means aef tuating. said gearing. means; whereby 'energy isstoredintheinertia member, f' ab 22. In starting appanatns ofh'themlass de'- scribed, a driven member,an inertia'drivingmember, Aa magnetmfmeans for. transmitting. mot-ion from the inertia member the driven member. and to. the magneto, and/,means for storing energy in said inertia' member, 4said last named means including said.lirst namedY mea-ns. Y

23. In combination with engine starting mechanism includinga driveii'member adaptA :ed to be moved into operative engagement with a member of an engine to be started, a

booster magneto adapted to be driven by said mechanism, means for moving said driven member into engagement wild said engine member, and means actuated by said first named means for drivably connecting thebooster magnet-o with said starting meehanism.

24. In combination, an engine starter including aflywheel and a driven member adapted tol be moved into engagement with a membenof an engine toy be started= a nn'igneto adapted to be -lgriven by, but normally out vof driving.engagement*with,v said flywheel, ,means for moving lsaid driven member into engagement with the engine member, and means for operatively connecting said flywheel a-nd magneto.

In testimony whereof I have signed this zjspecieation.

RAYMOND P. LANSING. 

